As a writer of gay erotic romance the portrayal of gay characters in media is a topic of interest. For instance, my favorite part of the TV show Shadowhunters is without a doubt Malec, the relationship between Magnus Bane and Alec Lightwood. More and more shows are including a wider cast of characters, making many people both happy and enraged.

I’ll get to the enraged people later.

First, the positive. Seeing a more diverse cast of characters on both the large and small screen is a huge thing for me. I love seeing romance in all forms, especially progressive portrayals of same sex couples. It gives many people hope that one day they will be given the same treatment as any other couple walking around.

Personally, I find the depiction of homosexual relationship so much more interesting than the same boring song and dance of heterosexual couples. There’s only so many times I can listen to the same tired clichés. Whether it’s a work place romance, or a romantic comedy you can guarantee the steps are going to be the same. The most refreshing heterosexual couple I’ve found recently was from a show called NUMB3RS. An older show I found on Hulu. It was, well, a portrayal of a healthy, developed relationship. Something lacking in almost ALL romantic subplots in shows today… Why is that?

With homosexual relationships, there are more barriers that the couples must overcome so that often times the same clichés, though they do appear, aren’t as glaring. Plus, it makes me smile to know that the cute boy got his guy in the end!

Now, onto the enraged part.

I’m going to quickly say what enrages me about the depiction of homosexual relationships in shows: TRAGEDY! Nine times out of ten they’re going to break up, or one of them is going to die. It is almost impossible to find a movie with a gay romantic couple that doesn’t end on a note of sadness, or hopeful depression. There are also times when, to have a happy ending, one guy goes off with a woman leaving the other alone! Seriously people?

Yes, I understand showing the tragedy of being in a homosexual relationship draws people in, but there’s a reason I’m not a fan of Romeo and Juliet. I don’t want tragedy in my love stories. I want to see the couple I’m routing for to end on a happy note. Yes, life isn’t always going to end happily. But, not every gay relationship in the world ends in tragedy and being alone. The fact people think this way is, for lack of a better word, ignorant!

It’s time that gay romance can have a happy ending. I want to see that happy ending. Many people want to see that happy ending.

As for the people that don’t… Okay fair warning I’m going to start ranting at this point. Again, be warned, I’m not going to be polite below.

So, it was announced that Disney was including an “exclusively gay moment” in the newest live action release of Beauty and the Beast. That exclusive moment? LeFou dances with another guy! Gasp! Alert the media! A man danced with another man!

In a movie about a girl who has Stockholm syndrome and falls for an abusive man-beast.

And, in true modern religious justice warrior fashion, people immediately started crying BOYCOTT! Disney’s trying to force their LGBTQ agenda onto our children! Or, it’s fine if people are gay, so long as it’s not in a children’s movie! My personal favorite: How can I let my children watch a movie that I can’t watch with Jesus? (Though you can watch abusive romance just fine without having an issue?)

My point is, these are ridiculous reasons to boycott something. No one is trying to force the LGBTQ agenda onto your children. If you don’t want your kids to watch the movie, fine, but don’t belittle a studio for being progressive and including a gay character. Like it or not people, this is the future. Equality and inclusion is what is coming, deal with it.

If you don’t want your child exposed to “gay stuff” then get rid of the internet from your home, turn off your televisions, and stop letting them go outside. Basically, lock your kid in the basement and don’t let them have any social interactions! (DO NOT DO THIS! IT IS ILLEGAL!!!! AND SICK!!!!)

Also, the idea that by watching a guy dance with another guy, or watching a guy kiss another guy (yes that happens in movies and TV shows too) will make your child gay is hilarious! I honestly can’t think of a more ludicrous idea than this one. How would this scenario play out I wonder?

“Mommy! I saw two boys kiss on TV, so I kissed Timmy! Now we’re dating! That show turned me gay!” said no little boy ever!

I’ve watched multiple movies and TV shows were girls kiss girls. Guess what? I’m not a lesbian. Maybe I’m watching the wrong movies? Is that it? Or, I don’t know, maybe it has nothing to do with the show and has everything to do with DNA! I’m heterosexual by birth, no amount of gay kissing and sex on my TV is going to change that. The same goes for your kids.

If your kid is gay, it isn’t the media’s fault. If anything, the media is just trying to make your child feel like there is nothing wrong with them. That they too can have that happily ever after everyone else is said to get.

So, I ask you, why is it okay for a man and a woman to kiss on TV but not two men, or two women? The answer? Because you’re hypocritical ass-hats.

The only way you have a right to say it’s not okay is if you, the parent, show absolutely ZERO romantic or sexual attraction to the other parent in the relationship. No hugging! Stop kissing each other, you’re going to teach your kid it’s okay to kiss! How dare you hold hands in the park! You should be ashamed of yourselves! I hope you sleep in separate beds, don’t want the kiddos thinking it’s okay to share a bed either.

Basically, practice what you preach. Don’t want your impressionable youth to know about romance and relationships outside parent/child and friends, cut out all interaction that makes your relationship special with your significant other.

Image belongs to Stargazer-Gemini @ DeviantArt

Also, no more stories about the prince saving the princess and ending with a kiss! That’s bad too.

Seriously, I’m not kidding. The original fairytales that people praise as being degraded or corrupted in today’s media are horribly gruesome stories. The Little Mermaid? She dies at the end. Sleeping Beauty? She’s raped by her prince while she slumbers. Cinderella? Self-harm is a pivotal part of the original story. Still sound like awesome, wholesome family entertainment? Disney dulled that shit down, a lot!

So, stop. Just stop. Stop trying to throw around the “religion” card to make yourself not look like a bigoted asshole. Stop saying you’re doing it for the kids. You’re not. You’re doing it for yourself, and your own sad pathetic existence. Stop saying it’s okay as long as kids don’t see it. That’s just hypocritical, as mentioned previously.

Kids don’t see things the same way adults do. All they’re going to see is two people dancing, or two people kissing. It’s you, the parent, that warps their minds and makes them see it as something beyond that. No one else. The behavior and opinions of your child is a direct reflection of how you raised them.

Simple.

End of story.

Now, I’m going to end this on a happy note, because as mentioned I like happy endings in my romance. I’m personally glad that Disney made LeFou gay and gave him a story arc for which to develop with. I plan to see the movie hopefully before it leaves theaters. If not, I will be watching it when it comes out on Digital or Blue Ray. Disney has always pushed the envelope, and this isn’t the first time people have cried boycott at their expense. The fact is, Disney is still around and going strong. So, cheers Disney. I applaud you for taking this step into the future and look forward to more of these moves in coming works.

Again: DO NOT LOCK YOUR KIDS UP! I DO NOT IN ANYWAY CONDONE THIS KIND OF TREATMENT OF CHILDREN. CHILDREN NEED TO BE ALLOWED TO PLAY OUTSIDE AND INTERACT WITH THEIR ENVIRONMENT. DO NOT, I REPEAT, DO NOT LOCK YOUR CHILDREN INSIDE AWAY FROM THE WORLD. IT IS WRONG!

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A.M. Halford

Mondays: Free post days where I post about anything I feel like talking about.Wednesdays: WIP Wednesdays where I post articles about my current works in progress and share a small snippet from one of them.Fridays: Author Spotlights. I share an author and spotlight their work!